The at 91大神 has appointed its first 鈥渟cholar-in-residence.鈥� He is Joseph Longacher, a physician who spent most of his career in Richmond, Virginia.
Since the majority of the students in the two-year-old program are headed to careers in healthcare, it makes sense that the first scholar-in-residence would be a healthcare provider, said program director Roman Miller, PhD.
Longacher retired in February 2013 and moved with his wife Constance to Harrisonburg, where they live near the 91大神 campus. In his part-time volunteer role with the biomedicine program, he will advise the professors and consult with students on their research projects. Longacher will serve a two-year term, with the possibility of renewal.
Longacher will also lead a consulting biomedicine team that will be set up this fall. It will be comprised of experts in the healthcare field.
鈥淭his is a big deal to have clinical expertise on our leadership team,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淲e were looking for a physician or other healthcare provider with connections to Virginia鈥檚 hospitals, medical schools and healthcare leaders as well as the ability to wisely guide us in further development of our program.鈥�
Miller, who is 91大神鈥檚 longtime director of the , is himself the graduate of a biomedicine program. He earned his PhD in biomedical science at Kent State University in Ohio. A member of 91大神鈥檚 faculty for 29 years, Miller is the Endowed Professor of Biology.
鈥淥ur master鈥檚 in biomedicine is a good way to get into the healthcare field, whether as an administrator, teacher or healthcare provider,鈥� said Miller. In some cases, like his own, it will mean further study after 91大神 at the doctoral level.
Many of the current biomedicine students at 91大神 did not pursue majors in college that would lead to health-care careers but decided later that鈥檚 what they wanted. Fewer than half of the current students came directly from undergraduate studies in college.
Following his undergraduate work at 91大神, Longacher, from Newport News, Virginia, went to the Medical College of Virginia (now part of Virginia Commonwealth University) in Richmond. After an internship at a hospital in Pennsylvania, he served as a general practitioner in Appalachia under . He returned to Richmond for a residency in internal medicine and gastroenterology.
Next came three years at a clinic in Indiana, before Longacher settled in Richmond to focus on gastroenterology 鈥� dealing with the digestive system 鈥� at the McGuire Clinic, later renamed Virginia Physicians.
For most of his career in Richmond, Longacher was also a clinical professor of internal medicine at VCU. He mentored students at his clinic as well as teaching at the McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center. A member of , Longacher related to some 50 Mennonite medical students at VCU over the years.
Longacher has been involved in a variety of leadership roles in his denomination, including two terms as moderator of . He served as president of and is completing a term this summer as president of its successor organization, .
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to working with the other members of the advisory group to share our insights and help provide input from our experience,鈥� Longacher said.